QB Colt McCoy, TexasPARTICULARS: 6-3/210, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Tuscola (Texas) Jim NedBUZZ: After a disappointing sophomore season, McCoy has rebounded in a big way. He has 17 touchdown passes and is completing 79.3 percent of his passes. He also leads the top-ranked Longhorns in rushing with 348 yards.

RB Donald Brown, ConnecticutPARTICULARS: 5-10/210, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Red Bank (N.J.) Red Bank CatholicBUZZ: He leads the nation in rushing at 177.8 yards per game and has 12 rushing touchdowns. At times, it's as if he's a one-man offense for the Huskies.

RB Javon Ringer, Michigan StatePARTICULARS: 5-9/202, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade-JulienneBUZZ: He has become a workhorse for the Spartans, with 247 carries in seven games. He's second in the nation in rushing at 158.9 yards per game and leads the country with 14 rushing touchdowns.

WR Michael Crabtree, Texas TechPARTICULARS: 6-3/214, SophomoreHIGH SCHOOL: Dallas CarterBUZZ: Crabtree is following up his otherworldly freshman season with a sterling sophomore season. He has 43 catches for 653 yards and 10 touchdowns and has three games with at least two TD receptions.

WR Austin Collie, BYU
PARTICULARS: 6-2/208, Junior HIGH SCHOOL: El Dorado Hills (Calif.) Oak RidgeBUZZ: Collie is quarterback Max Hall's favorite target for the high-powered Cougars. Collie has 47 catches for 683 yards and eight touchdowns; he has at least one TD reception in each of the Cougars' six games. He had 10 catches for 110 yards and two TDs in BYU's 59-0 demolition of UCLA.

TE Chase Coffman, MissouriPARTICULARS:6-6/245, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Peculiar (Mo.) Raymore-PeculiarBUZZ: He is Chase Daniel's favorite target, with 44 receptions for 554 yards and three touchdowns. His season-high is 58 catches in 2006 and he should smash that mark.

T Michael Oher, Ole MissPARTICULARS: 6-5/318, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Memphis Briarcrest ChristianBUZZ: He toyed with the idea of going pro but decided to return for his senior season. New Rebels coach Houston Nutt certainly is pleased. Ole Miss is playing well on offense, and Oher is a big reason – literally and figuratively.

T Andre Smith, AlabamaPARTICULARS: 6-4/330, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Birmingham (Ala.) HuffmanBUZZ: Smith has been a starter since he set foot on campus, but he and his linemates have been dominant this season. The Tide is averaging 226.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th nationally, and has 14 rushing touchdowns.

G Rodney Hudson, Florida StatePARTICULARS: 6-2/290, SophomoreHIGH SCHOOL: Mobile (Ala.) B.C. RainBUZZ: He has been the best lineman for the Seminoles, who had had a surprisingly productive rushing attack. FSU coaches say he has missed only two assignments on more than 300 plays, and he hasn't been called for a penalty this season.

G Herman Johnson, LSUPARTICULARS: 6-7/386, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Denton (Texas) HighBUZZ: Johnson is mammoth and especially effective as a run-blocker. He is a big reason the Tigers are averaging 181.2 rushing yards per game. Despite his size, he is surprisingly nimble and has good feet.

C Jonathan Luigs, ArkansasPARTICULARS: 6-4/314, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Little Rock (Ark.) Pulaski AcademyBUZZ: Luigs is considered the best of a deep group of centers nationally and has helped open holes for surprisingly effective tailback Michael Smith in new coach Bobby Petrino's offense.

DEFENSE

E Aaron Maybin, Penn StatePARTICULARS: 6-4/236, SophomoreHIGH SCHOOL: Ellicott City (Md.) Mount HebronBUZZ: Maybin went into the season as an unknown, but he quickly has eased fears. He has nine sacks, including three games with two each, and has 29 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

E Brian Orakpo, TexasPARTICULARS: 6-4/260, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Houston LamarBUZZ: Orakpo has battled injuries throughout his career but has come into his own under new coordinator Will Muschamp, who loves to be in attack mode. Orakpo has 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 23 tackles. He also has six quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He has had three two-sack games this season after coming into the season with just one in his career.

T Terrence Cody, AlabamaPARTICULARS:6-5/365, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Fort Myers (Fla.) RiverdaleBUZZ: Cody has been an immovable object in the middle of the line for an Alabama defense that has been much better than expected. Cody, who once weighed more than 400 pounds, has slimmed down and become a force. He has 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. But Cody's sheer size and brute strength mean opposing offenses usually have to double-team him.

T Sen'Derrick Marks, AuburnPARTICULARS: 6-2/296, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Prichard (Ala.) VigorBUZZ: Auburn's defense has played well, especially considering the ineptness of the Tigers' offense. Marks moved from end to his more natural position inside this season and has, well, made his mark. He has 26 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick.

LB Rennie Curran, GeorgiaPARTICULARS: 5-11/228, SophomoreHIGH SCHOOL: Snellville (Ga.) BrookwoodBUZZ: Curran doesn't have ideal size, but he has great instincts, good speed and always seems to find the ball. He has 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. His best game may have been the Bulldogs' loss to Alabama, when he had 14 tackles and a forced fumble.

LB Brandon Spikes, FloridaPARTICULARS: 6-3/245, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Shelby (N.C.) CrestBUZZ: He may not match the 131 tackles he had last season, but he has become a better all-around linebacker. He has 46 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup and two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown to break open the game against LSU.

LB Sean Weatherspoon, MissouriPARTICULARS: 6-1/235, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Jasper (Texas) HighBUZZ: Weatherspoon had a nice first half of the season for the Tigers. He has 65 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. He also has answered any questions about his coverage ability by coming up with three interceptions – including two he returned for touchdowns – and three pass breakups.

CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio StatePARTICULARS: 6-1/210, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Piscataway (N.J.) HighBUZZ: Jenkins is one of the most talented defenders in the nation, and his play has proved that this season. Though most teams avoid throwing in his area, he has three picks this season, along with five pass breakups, 27 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

CB Alphonso Smith, Wake ForestPARTICULARS: 5-9/190, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Pahokee (Fla.) HighBUZZ: Watch a Wake game, and chances are Smith will make a big play. He has three interceptions to go along with seven pass breakups. He's also a solid punt returner for the Demon Deacons.

SS Eric Berry, TennesseePARTICULARS: 5-11/195, SophomoreHIGH SCHOOL: Fairburn (Ga.) CreeksideBUZZ: The Vols are having a bad season, but the defense – especially Berry – has played well. Berry is second on the team with 34 tackles and has 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He also has four interceptions and two pass breakups.

FS Ryan Hamilton, VanderbiltPARTICULARS: 6-2/210, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: Newtown (Pa.) Council Rock NorthBUZZ: Vandy has been one of the nation's biggest surprises, and Hamilton has been a standout on an opportunistic defense. He has 45 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

SPECIALSTS

K Louie Sakoda, UtahPARTICULARS: 5-9/178, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: San Jose (Calif.) BranhamBUZZ: Sakoda is following up his All-America performance in 2007 with another sterling season. He is 15-of-17 on field-goal attempts for the Utes, including 6-of-8 from beyond 40 yards. His longest this season is 53 yards, and his misses have come from 48 and 54. He's also averaging 43.4 yards per punt.

P Kevin Huber, CincinnatiPARTICULARS: 6-1/220, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Cincinnati McNicholasBUZZ: Huber is fifth nationally in punting at 45.9 yards per kick, and the Bearcats lead the nation in net punting. Eleven of his 28 punts have been downed inside the 20 and he has just one touchback.

KR Derrick Williams, Penn StatePARTICULARS: 6-0/194, SeniorHIGH SCHOOL: Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor RooseveltBUZZ: Williams finally is starting to live up to his immense prep hype. He always has had good speed but it finally is being harnessed. He has returned two kickoffs and one punt for a touchdown, and also plays a big role in Penn State's revitalized passing attack

PR Brandon James, FloridaPARTICULARS: 5-7/186, JuniorHIGH SCHOOL: St. Augustine (Fla.) HighBUZZ: The little guy makes big plays for the Gators. He has two punt returns for touchdowns and is averaging 20.9 yards per return. He's also averaging 29.3 yards on kickoff returns.